Ancient Ocean Discovery Reveals How Earth Kept Its Air Rich in Life-Giving Oxygen
Photo: Cristian Palmer / Unsplash
Scientists studying 2.3-billion-year-old rocks have unlocked a long-standing mystery about how early Earth sustained a breathable atmosphere. They found that a natural phosphorus-recycling cycle in ancient oceans helped maintain high oxygen levels through major environmental shifts, offering fresh insight into the deep history that made complex life possible.
Scientists studying 2.3-billion-year-old rocks have unlocked a long-standing mystery about how early Earth sustained a breathable atmosphere. They found that a natural phosphorus-recycling cycle in ancient oceans helped maintain high oxygen levels through major environmental shifts, offering fresh insight into the deep history that made complex life possible.